Prep phenom Sammy Watson added a third national high school record to her resume tonight at the USATF Indoor Championships in New Mexico. She ran 2:43.18 for 1K to better Sarah Brown neé Bowman's standard of 2:43.4, set in 2005.
Watson sat on Eleanor Fulton for the first 600m, before taking the reins in the final two laps to win the section. She ran 2:11.6 through 800m and her splits were: 31.78, 33.46, 33.43, 32.37, 32.15.
The senior at Rush Henrietta High School in Rochester, New York will advance to the final with the fifth-fastest time of the evening. Charlene Lipsey won Heat 1 in 2:41.86. Lipsey and Watson both had stellar races a few weeks ago at the Millrose Games -- Lipsey, an LSU alumnae, ran a lifetime PR of 1:58.64 to take second behind Ajee Wilson, while Watson placed sixth in 2:01.78 to break Mary Decker's 42-year-old national high school record.
Watson skipped the New York State Championships this weekend to test her luck against the nation's best professional athletes. Her first national record this season was a 1:27.13 mark in the 600m.
After her record run in Albuquerque, she said she did not realize the city was at altitude until yesterday.
When asked if she plans to compete collegiately next year, the as-of-yet uncommitted star said only, "I hope so."
The 1K final is Sunday, March 5 at 5:17 p.m. MT.
Watson sat on Eleanor Fulton for the first 600m, before taking the reins in the final two laps to win the section. She ran 2:11.6 through 800m and her splits were: 31.78, 33.46, 33.43, 32.37, 32.15.
The senior at Rush Henrietta High School in Rochester, New York will advance to the final with the fifth-fastest time of the evening. Charlene Lipsey won Heat 1 in 2:41.86. Lipsey and Watson both had stellar races a few weeks ago at the Millrose Games -- Lipsey, an LSU alumnae, ran a lifetime PR of 1:58.64 to take second behind Ajee Wilson, while Watson placed sixth in 2:01.78 to break Mary Decker's 42-year-old national high school record.
Watson skipped the New York State Championships this weekend to test her luck against the nation's best professional athletes. Her first national record this season was a 1:27.13 mark in the 600m.
After her record run in Albuquerque, she said she did not realize the city was at altitude until yesterday.
When asked if she plans to compete collegiately next year, the as-of-yet uncommitted star said only, "I hope so."
The 1K final is Sunday, March 5 at 5:17 p.m. MT.
